Arbor Day: Bio Abundance Program reinforces Concepta’s commitment to forests

An initiative by the Grupo Sabará business unit contributes to the maintenance of approximately 345 thousand hectares of native vegetation and involves about 2,100 families in the collection and processing of ingredients

São Paulo, September 2022 – On September 21st, Brazil celebrates Arbor Day, a date that marks the beginning of spring in the country and was created in 1965 with the aim of raising awareness among the population, government officials, entrepreneurs and other leaders about the importance of trees for life on Earth, thanks to functions such as producing oxygen, preventing erosion, reducing temperatures and providing food for animal species.

And it was with the protection of forests in mind, in 2022, that Concepta Ingredients - a business unit of the Sabará Group, a reference in the supply of ingredients to various industries, with a focus on natural, organic and sustainable products - invested in the creation of the Bio Abundance Program , which reinforces a socio-environmental commitment to Brazilian forests and seeks to ensure the traceability of raw materials from the Amazon forest and other biomes.

The initiative is based on five pillars: connecting people in a virtuous value chain between the forest's wealth and the market; keep the forest standing; respect the peoples and communities that inhabit it; encourage the use of ingredients from Brazilian biomes; and promote socioeconomic inclusion and the reduction of social inequality.

Based on the engagement of communities, cooperatives and agro-extractive associations that supply inputs, the Bio Abundance Program emerged in search of enhancing an action that is already ongoing at Concepta Ingredients. “The ingredients we offer are supported by training families and conservation in different biomes in Brazil, contributing to the indirect maintenance of around 345,000 hectares of native vegetation through the valorization of non-timber forest products”, explains André Sabará, Commercial Director at Concepta Ingredients.

The executive says that the initiative involves around 2,100 families who work in the collection and processing of products, including traditional peoples, who find in the activity one more reason to stay in their regions of origin, making it possible to generate income through inputs. . “Suppliers are also encouraged to practice sustainable management in extractive activities and to vary what we call a “product basket”, valuing cooperatives and traditional communities and contributing to the safety of biomes and territories”, adds André.

International recognition and contribution
Thanks to the work developed in communities in the Amazon, Cerrado and Caatinga biomes, Concepta Ingredients received this year financial support from the Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD), considered an instrument from the Dutch government for contributing to the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The contribution is a recognition of the work developed by Concepta Ingredients, one of the main points being the fact that the company is committed to paying a fair price to local communities, which are encouraged to take care of the forest, in addition to promoting sustainable collection practices to ensure protection against deforestation.

With the approval of the support by the DFCD, a financing agreement was signed with a subsidy of 350 thousand euros for Concepta Ingredients. The investment supports, among other initiatives, the carrying out of a technical feasibility study and market research.

Ulisses Sabará, CEO of Grupo Sabará, highlights the importance of the contribution to the planning that the business unit has with the local communities. “DFCD's investment will strengthen us in the next steps to support local communities, as we continue our journey towards the processing and sustainable use of natural ingredients from Brazilian forests”, points out the executive.

About Concepta Ingredients
Concepta Ingredients is part of the Sabará Group and specializes in natural and technological solutions developed according to the Bio Abundance Program. With a work based on innovation and research, the company offers organic ingredients, supported by the training of families and indirect conservation of areas in different biomes in Brazil. Its vast portfolio has technological inputs from international partners and ingredients from Brazilian biodiversity to meet the most specific demands of the industries in which it is present.

About Sabará Group
Sabará Group, with more than 65 years of history, is genuinely Brazilian and recognized for its ability to innovate and adapt. For three generations, the Group has overcome challenges and stands out in its markets. Its commitment to the well-being of people around the world goes beyond offering innovative products and services. Its activities take future generations into account, focusing on solutions that guarantee sustainability. Through its various branches of activity, Sabará Group operates throughout the national territory and has a presence in countries in South America, North America and Europe. It specializes in the development of high-performance technologies, solutions and raw materials, aimed at the water treatment markets in sanitation and industry, nutrition and animal health, and the food and beverage industries. The development of its products relies on 100% national knowledge and technology, a factor that contributes to Brazil becoming a reference in product research in favor of a sustainable world.